President: Georgia to Modernize Customs Service in 6 Months

President Saakashvili said on February 23 that he has instructed the government to modernize the country?s customs system and ?to totally improve management? there in the next six months.
 
?By September 1 [2007] we will have new customs and tax system in Georgia. We already have good laws, our taxes are low enough, but still I do not rule out their further reduction,? President Saakashvili said while meeting with Georgian and foreign reporters at the Tbilisi Mayor?s Office.
 
Saakashvili gave an order on February 21 to sack Chief of the Customs Service Zurab Antelidze, accusing him of mismanagement of customs clearance procedures.

?Why did these changes become necessary at customs? This man, Antelidze, is an honest person and he did not take bribes – we checked this. But honesty is not the only feature of a public official. We need decent, intellectual, effective people who will make decisions,? Saakashvili said.

In December 2006 the Parliament passed a law envisaging the creation of a new structure under the Finance Ministry that will unite tax and customs services and the Financial Police.

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